Linus Unah, the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) friend of the month of August 2024, is a Nigerian producer, journalist, and emerging documentary filmmaker working with Wild Africa. He previously worked as an independent journalist for six years and produced multimedia stories on wildlife conservation, development, global health, and conflict for Mongabay, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, National Public Radio, Devex, The Christian Science Monitor, and several others.

His fondness for documentary film grew out of his role at San Francisco-based Wild Aid Organisation, an international environmental charity, where he assisted in producing environmental TV series and shortform videos on the illegal wildlife trade and local conservation projects. Recently, the EPI Foundation worked closely with Linus in the launch of Nigeria’s first National Elephant Action Plan, which he described as a significant step forward towards providing a strategic framework for ensuring the long-term survival of elephants

Have you always been passionate about wildlife conservation?

My passion for wildlife conservation has roots in my childhood in central Nigeria, a place surrounded by trees like mangoes, neems, and cashews. As a kid, I loved birdwatching, spotting nests, and helping a friend raise pigeons. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what wildlife conservation meant – it was more about the simple joys of exploring nature, much like my peers. We played football, chased birds, and marvelled at the weaver birds nesting in the mango trees behind our home. After completing my bachelor’s degree in communications, I was mainly focused on covering stories on insecurity, climate change, and various development issues like water, sanitation, and education.

However, my perspective changed in 2018 when I visited Agbokim Waterfalls village in Cross River State in southern Nigeria to interview Cameronian refugees fleeing the conflict back home. Coming from Lagos, a city with scarce green spaces, I was stunned by the pristine rainforests in Cross River. I also heard stories about the region’s unique wildlife – gorillas, chimpanzees, drill monkeys, and more.

This was a turning point for me. I realised these stories weren’t being told as widely as possible. Shortly after, I came across a call for pitches on Mongabay focused on great apes in mid-2018. I applied and was selected, marking the beginning of my work in wildlife storytelling. Since then, I’ve reported extensively on conservation efforts in Nigeria and Costa Rica, covering the work of people dedicated to fighting poaching and habitat loss. I’ve truly found my calling in telling these stories today with Wild Africa, where I work, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

How did your journey into journalism begin?

My journey into journalism was shaped by an early exposure to literature, thanks to my older brothers, who were deeply immersed in Shakespearean plays and the poetry of William Wordsworth, Robert Frost, and John Milton. Our home was filled with the works of Nigerian authors like Cyprian Ekwensi, Amos Tutuola, Ola Rotimi, Chinua Achebe, and Wole Soyinka, among others.

In both elementary and high school, I was actively involved in press clubs – a small group of students who listened to Radio Nigeria network news daily, read local and national newspapers, and distilled everything into a short news bulletin that we presented at the morning assembly. I also eagerly awaited weekly copies of Newswatch magazine, where I was captivated by the incisive writing of Ray Ekpu and Dan Agbese. Their fearless and hard-hitting style left a lasting impression on me. Their work deepened my fascination with journalism and its critical role in society.

As I grew older, I became a regular reader of The Sun newspaper, where I followed columns written by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe. Inspired by these influences, I pursued a degree in mass communication at the University of Nigeria and eventually ventured into freelance journalism after graduation.

You have worked with global, Pan-African and local news organisations. What are some of the common themes that influence how conservation issues in Africa are reported globally?

In Africa, conservation stories are usually centred on poaching, deforestation, and endangered animals. Although these are serious challenges, this framing sometimes overlooks more nuanced stories about local conservation efforts, indigenous knowledge, and successful community-driven initiatives.

Another recurring element is a preoccupation with well-known species like elephants, rhinos, lions, and gorillas, which receive international attention and funding. This emphasis, however, sometimes overlooks less “charismatic” species and broader biodiversity issues that are equally vital for ecological balance.

The tension between the demands of local development needs and conservation goals is another recurring theme. Global reporting frequently highlights the need to protect wildlife and landscapes, sometimes portraying local communities as impediments to attaining these noble objectives. This can provide a one-dimensional representation of the interaction between humans and nature while ignoring the socioeconomic dynamics at work.

Despite their critical role in protecting nature, local perspectives and voices are sometimes missing from conservation stories. There is a fixation with quoting experts, often without a clear definition of what qualifies someone as an expert in the first place.

Do you think that it is important to invest funds in amplifying African voices in conservation? If so, why? And what impact could that create?

Yes, without a doubt. For decades, African communities have coexisted with wildlife and found ways to protect their natural resources. By investing in and amplifying these voices, we elevate solutions that are grounded in local realities and encourage local communities to feel a sense of ownership. This ensures that conservation efforts are co-created and led by the people who will be most impacted, rather than merely being top-down initiatives. Additionally, African journalists, community leaders, and conservationists become effective change agents when they are given the means and platforms to share their own stories. This not only shifts the narrative but also inspires the next generation of conservationists across the continent.

This year has been monumental for Nigeria’s elephant conservation efforts. First, the ivory crush happened; recently, the National Elephant Action Plan was launched, and you were present for both events. How have these events influenced your vision for the conservation of Nigeria’s elephants?

The ivory crush event was a powerful symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade and protecting its elephants. Similarly, the launch of the National Elephant Action Plan marked a significant step forward, providing a strategic framework for ensuring the long-term survival of elephants through habitat protection, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and community engagement.

Being present at both events reinforced the importance of a coordinated approach that involves not just the government but also local communities, conservation organisations, and the private sector. Moving forward, I am more committed than ever to raising awareness and telling stories that highlight the progress being made while keeping a close eye on areas that need more attention.